The new nuns don't know that they're 'supposed' to be meek and submissive, and so in many ways they believe they can do anything, because they've seen the earlier ones do it. In this way, there's nothing for them to doubt. Tenzin Palmo More Quotes by Tenzin Palmo More Quotes From Tenzin Palmo I think many monks hesitate to change things. Tenzin Palmo monk thinking If nuns begin getting more empowered, where does that leave us? Tenzin Palmo empowered nun doe I think, for East and West, the first thing we need is a good grounding in basic Buddhadharma. Tenzin Palmo east needs thinking Once one has understand what is Buddhadharma, what is not Buddhadharma, and once one has had enough view to see the different approaches, then it's important to really look at what speaks to one's heart. Tenzin Palmo important views heart The big lamas coming from Tibet, Ladakh, India - everywhere - have been very friendly. But I don't figure in their world. For one thing, being Western puts you outside the limits. A token female doesn't hurt - there's only one. Tenzin Palmo limits hurt friendly The nature of the mind is completely incredible. Tenzin Palmo incredibles mind We're always given the message that our potential is so limited, which is so sad. Actually, our potential is infinite. Tenzin Palmo given infinite messages We have compassion because of the incredible pain and suffering which we as unenlightened beings cause to ourselves and all others through our ignorance. This is why we're trying to get out. This is why the bodhisattva has meaning. Because we're saying, no we won't get out, we won't escape until we've helped all other beings to escape, but most other beings don't even want to escape. They don't even know that there is an escape, and it's hard, so it's going to take an awfully long time. Tenzin Palmo pain ignorance compassion We should develop a deep appreciation for all the we have, and not waste it, otherwise we'll die with deep regrets. Tenzin Palmo waste regret appreciation You have to recharge your batteries. Tenzin Palmo batteries Doing retreats, getting personal teachings from time to time from inspiring teachers, all of this helps to recharge our batteries. Then we get inspired and can carry what we've gained into our daily life, which is very important. Tenzin Palmo important teaching teacher The Buddha always emphased the important of good friends. Tenzin Palmo good-friend important We live in a society which is heading in one direction, so it's good to have at least a few friends who share the same values and can encourage us and help us to remember that we're not alone or peculiar, but that what we're doing is a very valid way of life. This will encourage us to put the Dharma at the centre of our life and not the periphery, to use our daily life as our Dharma practice. Tenzin Palmo one-direction peculiar practice If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It will take time. But the difference between the first girls from Ladakh who became nuns, to the girls we have now, is very encouraging. Tenzin Palmo differences girl self-esteem We're not lowly sinners, we're not worthless beings. We are something jewel-like and beautiful. Tenzin Palmo sinner jewels beautiful I don't think I've changed anything, but I hope that by my talks I have encouraged people in their practice. That's as much as any of us can do. Tenzin Palmo practice people thinking The internet can be enormously helpful, just like books can, but I don't think it's the be all and end all for really practicing Buddhism. At a certain point, as with learning any skill, we need personal instruction from someone who is more advanced than us. Tenzin Palmo buddhism book thinking From the point of view of the relative world, merit is very important. Tenzin Palmo important views world From the point of view of emptiness, there is neither being nor non-being, but we're not on the point of view of emptiness, we're on the point of view of our relative being. Tenzin Palmo point-of-view emptiness views
